Button-attaching machine.



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BUTToN ATTACHING MACHINE.

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J. KIEWIGZ. BUTTON ATTAGHING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED 00T.14, 1911.

Patented June 3, 1913.

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known to and understood by those skilled in the art. A main shaft Z shown in dotted lines in F l may be of ordinary arrangement and operation and will have secured upon it substantially all of the operating cams of the machine. At the right hand of main shaft Z will be seen a pulley z loose on the shaft, adapted to be continuously driven when desired by a power belt, also a hand wheel z to facilitate certain manual operations of the main shaft, as will be well understood. Any ordinary clutch mechanism between driving pulley e and shaft Z may be employed whereby the shaft may be disconnected and the machine remain substantially idle though the pulley be in operation. rlhis), as will hereinafter appear, permits the mechanism in the button reservoir to be kept continually in operation by driving it from the pulley instead of the shaft.

In the machine to which the present improvements are shown as applied, the needle D is of the type having a hook instead of an eye, it passing downwardly through the work from above to where the thread mechanism is located and serving to draw a loop up through the work and through the eye of the button or through the primary loop as the case may be. rlhe needle D is shown secured at the lower end of needle bar Z which is fitted to slide vertically in the arm A2, and said needle may be reciprocated in any well known manner, as for example through bell crank cZ, link cl2 and arm cl3, the latter having a pin which engages in the cam slot of a cam Z4 mounted on the main shaft Z. It will be understood that the presser foot C is bifurcated, thus providing an aperture at 0 which permits the passage of the needle therethrough and also permits the line of att-ached buttons to pass along with the feeding of the work.

For feeding the work any convenient means such for example as the feed prong E, may be employed, said prong having upward and downward movement to enable it to engage in and disengage from the needle holes in the work, and having also horizontal vibration for causing the movements of the wo-rk in a direction from the observer in Fig. l. The mountings of this feed prong and its operative connections need not be described since the same are fully set forth in said prior patent No. 886,826 and form per se no part of the present invention, although it may be stated that a cam groove at e operates the connections for raising and lowering the feed prong, while cam groove at e operates the connections for causing the to-and-fro swinging of the feed prong.

The contour and therefore the timing of all of the cams herein shown and described will be such as to cause the different instrumentalities to harmoniously coperate for vforming the thread loops and locking them with the buttons into attaching knots.

Sutlicient of the thread mechanism is shown for the purposes of illustration, there being a looper bar F carrying a looper at its upper end, through which the thread y passes, said bar adapted to swing the looper at proper times so as to carry the thread into the hook of the needle, whereby the needle may draw the loop upward through the work; and the swinging of the looper may be effected by mechanism actuated by the cam f on the main shaft Z.

A loop spreader Gr is conventionally shown, it being shown mounted to oscillate about a short horizontal shaft g and also about a vertical shaft g', the latter being oscillated by means of a link ,(/2 connecting it with an arm g3, in turn oscillated by a horizontal shaft gt located at the rear of the machine and extending to the right where it is actuated by a cam groove at g5 on the main shaft Z.

The ordinary or any suitable cast-off to cooperate with needle D will be understood and is omitted for clearness.

rllie mechanisms above described are all known in the art and no claim of novelty to them per se is made herein.

I will now describe a novel construction and arrangement of button reservoir and chute, and the means to operate the same.

According to the present improvements the reservoir is supported so as to remain stationary during the operation of the machine, that is to say so that it shall not par` take in the oscillating movements of the chute, while the chute leading from the reservoir to the lsewing' position is so pivoted or mounted as to oscillate in the attachment of each button, without affecting or causing movements of the reservoir. By this a great advantage is gained in the reduction of the weight of the oscillating parts, greater simplicity of movement is secured and superior durability and quietness of operation. This severance of the chute from the reservoir may in one sense be considered merely as a division of the button passage or of the chute itself into two parts, the lower of which is pivoted for oscillating movement, while the upper of which including the reservoir is stationary.

The reservoir H, as already stated, is substantially stationary, at least during the button attaching operations. incidentally the reservoir is so mounted that when button attaching is not proceeding the reservoir may be tipped over or inverted for the purpose of emptying the remaining buttons into the hand or a receptacle. For this purpose a fixed bracket l has the forward side of the reservoir pivoted to it at e', t', the reservoir when in normal position resting upon a lixed stop 2", Fig. 3, conveniently located llCl in the ma chine, and being loeled in that position by the engagement oit the clutch l) hereinafter to be referred to.

',lhe reservoir containing a loose body oit? buttons, it will be understood that an agitator iis required to cause the eontinual tuinbling oil. the buttons so as to keep the li'eed ehute J ll titled by reason ot the entranee into the upper end thereof ot those buttons whieh by ohanee eorreel'ly strike the opening or exit, leading.;I to the ehute. lenerally sueh an agitator has been well known, Consistingl oit' one or more brushes moving in the body ot' buttons 'tor sweeping.;l or tun'lblingg' them in the Vit-,inity oit the exit passage. Herein is shown a pair ot brushes 7i, 7i. lutulnted on a brush stoel; 72, whieh in turn is mounted on a shatt 71? shown arranged axially with the reservoir easing and having bearings in a bearin piece 7L at one end and a eross bar 7b4', the shatt haring eollars 7L, 7r" t'or holdin g it lontritudiimlly in position. A rotation or oscillation of the shaft 7a2 will ea'use the brushes to sweep through the very lower most portion oil. the reservoii"s interior, whereby the buttons there located will be moved upi'rardly to one side into proximity with the exit passage.

ltor a reason 'that will hereiiia'lter appear the reservoir ll and shalt 702 are inolined, the incline beinnj in a direction extending;` downwardly to the right .in .lt`i l and 2.

The lowermost end wall 7i. of the reser- Voir is n'lorable to a slight extent as a matter of adjustu'leut :tor a purpose that will hereafllier appear, said n'loi'fement being permitted by a sliding' rod 70T, the lower end ot which is secured to the wall 7i, and the upper end oit which slides through a bearinpj 715. there bein n; a spring 71? eonlined between said bearing' and eollar 7L on the rod iter riyiixe; a tendeuey to torce the wall 7L downwardly or outwardly to keep it in eontaot with the adjusting member hereinatter to be relerred to.

lhe reservoir is provided with a` eoyer 7bL hinged at 71,12 at the rear side and yieldingg'ly held by a spring elasp 717- at the :tront so that the reservoir may be easily opened at its upper side either tor supplying; turther buttons thereto or tor enuilying out the remaining buttons when. the reservoir is swung; torwardly as has been previously deseribed.

letore deseribing.;` the manner oit aetuating the agitator, l. will deseribe the button ehute l l and its relation to the reserif'oir, and its manner ot operation and actuation. rlthe button feeding` ehute, has been. designated by two reiterenee letters .Il l( beeause the lower portion l has been rendered entirely separate trom or del'at-.hed trom portion J. ln one aspeet Vthe upper portion J is merely a part et or an extension 'from the reservoir H. The two sections .l K are shown as eaeh Comprising a nonadjustable member y', 7:, eonlainingg a slot or kerl? in whieh the button eyes or shanks travel, and a relatively adjustable member 71A opposed lo member and 7: opposed to member 7n 'the adiusta ble member 7i. is the same part that has already been re't'erred to as the lower end wall ol the reservoir. The eross-seetion in ltie. t el arly shows the relation ol. the m n-:uljustable and adjustable portion and the hert 7:, it beineunderstood that the buttons are 'ted uniformly in proeession with their heads eonlined between members 7'.. 7 and ouided by the button eye engaging the hert 72. lhe button exit from the reservoir is similarly eoustrueled and is surh that no buttons eau pass down the ehute sare those whieh shall adjustthem selref-i in the designated position in the ehute. .f"\ t the point ot division j between the lower ehute member l and the parts above it, a slight spare is shown, but this need be only large enough to permit the oseillalion ol. the ohute l and may be absent so that the parts are aetually in eontaet it designed :lor that purpose. lit will be umlerstood that :t'or the purposes ol the oseillation olf Chute K the reservoir and the extension J may be eonsidertal as stationary. lt is pre'lerred that the ehule lt shall oseillate about an axis or pivot so lot-ated and arraiured as not to disturb the proper registry o'li the ehute l( with the button guiding;- members y', 7L above it. For this purpose the oseillalion oit ehute b may be about` a horiz/.ontal pirot. or pin 7; whose axis is at. or substantially near the division point ji be'lore relerred to. ly this arrannen'lent there will be a minimum motion ot the ehule members 71, 7: at the point j and thereby the registry oli the ehute is least disturbed. '.lhe pivot pin 7::s may be nniunted in a fixed lafaring` 7;", 'Illia'. 1., and there held by a suitable retaining, eollar 7:5. lhe axis oil oseillation olE the ehute l beinghorizontal, and the lower end o'l said ehute at the sewing.: point beine' substantially beneath said horixoutal axis a most advantal.a'eous movement otsurh lower end is attained, it being' in the are o'l a larn'e eirele so that the motion is substantially in a straight line and is moreover pmetieally horizontal and also direetly toi-ward and baehward to and ilrom the observer in AFifi'. l.. l'his motion eooperales in a most, :ulrantafeous 'ay with the sewing meehanism and at lthe saine time permits the button reservoir to be loeated as shown at a eonvenieut point well toward the right oit the needle bar.

l will now desrribe the mode oli adjusting; the ehule 'lor dillerent sized buttonsl and will thereal'ter etplain the mode o'lE aetuating;` the ehute lo osrillate in haruiony with the other moehaniruus. ',lhe adjustable ehnte member 7: is adapted lo more toward and trom the nomadiustable member 7a this movement being guided by a pair of headed guide pins .26, Zu passing through the members Zt and into recesses in member 7c, there being slots or kerfs at Zt to permit a slight yielding of the metal and set screws las whereby the recesses may be closed for binding and thereby locking the guiee pins in any position to which they have been adjusted. Wvhen the set screws 76S are loosened adjustment may be made by moving the member L toward the member 7c for smaller sized buttons as follows. An adjusting screw 7c passes loosely through the member' Z," about the center of its length and is threaded into a recess in the member is. By turning the adjusting screw in one direction it is caused to force the adjustable member /c toward the member 7c, upon which the set screws will be tightened. For widening the distance between the members, coil springs 7510 are interposed, preferably surrounding the guide pins /c so as to force the two members apart when the adjusting screw is loosened. is it is a somewhat difficult and time consuming task to determine the precise adjustment which is best for any given sized button, have provided a means for readily determining this without a test, this means or gage comprising a pointer L whose point or index passes along a scale. Z which is conveniently graduated for the purpose, and the graduations designated with numbers or other convenient designations. rlfhe pointer is pivoted at Z and is provided with a pin Z2 fairly near the pivot so that actuation of the pin will cause magnified movements of the index. The described parts are located on the chute member Z2, and opposite to them secured upon the chute member 7c is an actuating' extension Z3. rlhe extension Z3 may engage in any convenient manner with the pin Z2 and as shown it merely presses upon said pin for moving the pointer to the left, this movement being` opposed by a light spring Z4 connected with the pointer tending to move the latter toward the right. Ubviously for any given adjustment of the chute .member .70 'he pointer will assume a certain position on the scale Z and when once determined for any given sized button, the operator has merely to readjust the parts to bring the pointer to the same designation whenever the machine is again employed for that sized button.

will now describe the manner of actuating the oscillatingehute. For this purpose it has a rear extension M, Figs. l. Q. and 3, and the extremity of this extension is a horizontal pin m, Fig. l, extending to the right where it engages in a radial slot formed in an arm or crank m mounted. to oscillate with a horizontal shaft m2 having at its right-hand end an arm m3 which is provided with a pin ext-ending into a cam or groove formed at mt in the side and face of one of the cam members on the mainshaft Z. By this arrangement t-he main shafts rotation causes the oscillation of shaft m2 and thereby the forward and rearward swinging of the button chute.

l will now describe to an extent sufficient for the purposes hereof, the cooperation of the button feeding chute with the button attaching mechanism, referring more particularly to Figs. 2 and 3. lt will be seen that the foremost of the procession of buttons has been caused by the pressure of those behind it to sweep around a curve formed in the chute, this expedient having been well known heretofore and it serving to so change the position of the button that its* eye will stand in a horizontal plane. rl`hus in Fig. 3 the button eyes would be pointing toward the observer and passing down the kerf indicated by the two dotted lines. At the foot thereof a button eye comes to view and takes the curve referred to. lt is necessary, however, to prevent the button passing out of the chute as it might do if not prevented. At the lower extremity of the chute the kerf is converted into an open slot, thus forming two metal portions, an upper porttion 'n and a lower portion n which will be comparatively thin so that the button eye standing horizontally between them will extend outwardly sufficiently to enable it to readily receive the needle and thread loop. Near the guide ends n, a are two movable members a2, n3, they both being mounted on so as to slightly oscillate about a horizontal pin at fixedly secured in the chute member' 7c. A. common stop pin a5 serves as a stop for both members a2, as. Aside, however, from their common pivot pin at and stop pin a5, the members a2, as are independent in their action. Thus the member a2 is merely a yielding button stop, it having a beveled face a6 against which the foremost button head strikes, thus arresting the descent of the buttons, said button stop having a spring nl of sufficient strength to keep it firmly pressed against the stop a5, said spring being, however, sufficiently light to permit the button when attached to the work being jerked rearwardly from the chute past said yielding button stop a2. The function of member n3 is to serve as a button clamp, it at times pressing toward the observer in Fig. 3 so as to clamp the button head against the guide ends and being released at other times to permit the attached button escaping. ln this way the button is held securely in place with the eye projecting its full extent from the guide ends a, n for cooperation with the loop forming needle. @ne convenient Vmanner of operating the button clamp a3 is to rigidly attach to it a stout spring as which normally is pressed toward the left in 2 by one end of the same llt@ spring 'ai which at its other end presses on the button stop a2, so that normally the l ut ton clamp n is from the observer in Fig. 3 and therefore out of the way of the descending buttons, so as to permit them :freely to feed dowmvard whereby the foremost: button may come accurately into position in contact with the button stop n2. In button attaching pcsition the spring as is acted upon by a stationary lug or surface la, Fig. l, :formed on the arm A2 of the machine. The parts are so arranged that the movement of the button chute inward or from the op erator causes spring if to contact surface n so as to throw an outward pressure on said spring which in turn throws the button clamp n forcibly toward the observer in liig. 2l, thereby clamping the button as before explained. The :foreinost button being now held in attaching position, it need not be explained in detail how the needle is driven through the button eye and work to gather a loop which pulled up through the butto-n eye, following which a slight relative movement occurs, for example of the work and button, preparatm'y to the descent of 'he needle a second time through the tiret loop but outside of the button eye for the purpose of gathering the Secondary loop which is pulled up through the primary loop and afterward spread by the spreader tt over the button head, lthe thread being' at proper times during this operation drawn up so that ,in the end a tight knot will be termed securing the button to the work, after which the work shifts the distance between said successive buttons and operations are repeated.

in the form of machine shown, the needle vibrates in a fixed path. onsequently between its tirst and second descent there must be, s :,tbove stated, a slight relative movement, and this movement must include notI only the work, but also the button and the button chute, at the mouth of which the button is clamped, although it iis not important that the work should be so moved at 'the same time with, or at a different time from, the movement of the chute carrying the button. In Fig. 9 is seen a lett-hand Aview oit' the cam imL which vihrates the chute, that cam having` a groove engaged by a roller on arm fm," mounted on the oscillating sha'tt m,2 which is connected with the chute. rllhe cam mi* has a concentric portion mi, and when this engaged, the chute is in 'forward ijiosition. there is also an eccentric portion un" which serves to swing the chute inwardly to button attaching position, carrying the :foremost buttons eye beneath the needle. '.lhen follows,I a` concentric portion ont, during which the `first loop formed. Then :follows an eccentric portion 'mf which causes a slight additional inward swinging ot the chute for carrying the button eye beyond the needles position as above explained. lhen follows a concentric portion my, during which the second loop is formed, after which is the linal eccentric 'mim which serves to swing the chute entirely to its full outward position preparatory to the attachment oif the succeeding button.

l will now describe a button adjusting device forming a part oif the present improvements, and which is of great utility and importance in securing the accurate olnfration of the machine and avoiding omission of buttons. Sometimes it would happen the :foremost button in the chute would not take its proper place to receive the loop forming needle, and where that occurred the machine would proceed to form an abortive knot which required that the machine be stopped if the operator was so fort-omite as to observe the detect iin` time, the machine being then reversed if possible to carry it back to the place where the button was omitted 'for a repetition of operations. ln some cases elaborate improvements have been devised to enable the machine to be run backward to supply the omitted button. The present feat-ure oil improvement is designed to obviate all such dillieulties hy insuring that the foremost button takes its` proper place. This new feature may be termed a button adjusting device and as will be seen, it may advantageously be employed in cooperation with a button stop, such for example as the yielding button stop n? before described. Gravity dees not help the forward movement oif the buttons lying in the horizontal part of the chute and moreover all buttons are likely to run with ditliculty by binding against the sides of the chute or each other, especially when there may be buttons which are defective in eonstrlnztimi. Usually no great force would be reqi'lired to insure the :forward movement of the buttons and in :fact a light force is essential when a yielding stop is employed so as to prevent buttons being :forcibly moved past said stop.

lhe problem being thus stated, l will proceed to describe lny novel button adjusting device. lt comprises a part ha ving any desired construction, and which may be termed a brush7 adapted to enter into the lower chute part, preferably the horizontal part thereof, and to actually contact one or more of the foremost buttons, lightly 'forcing them toward button attaching position. Specifically my device comprises such a brush which is fitted to oseillah` out of and into the chute at each vibration of the latter so that gravity may have :full effect in advancing the buttons as far as 'it may, the brush then colning into play as described and acting to adjust. the 'foremost buttons as explained, in case they shall not have already taken the required positions. is shown the brush device cooperates both with the vibrat ing chute and with a fixed machine part, it being attached to one of them and receiving motion by cooperation with the other. This device is omitted from Figs. 2 and 3 for clearness but is shown in Fi gs. G and 7 as consisting of a light metallic spring O, constituting a brush support with a brush o at the extremity thereof. `While any swinging member might be used, a spring` by its elasticity affords the swinging motion required and at the same time reduces the weight of the parts so that a light and delicate contact with the buttons is assured, the brushs action being non-positive, thus avoiding any over pressure which might force the foremost button beyo-nd the yielding stop. The flexible brush support O is shown secured to a fixed frame part at 0 and extending downwardly therefrom with a curve to off-set it for securing proper brush position. rlhe brush must not only oscillate but must-oscillate relatively to the vibrating button chute and this is secured by a pin 02 mounted on the button chute and contacting the brush support G at a point intermediate the two ends of the brush support. Fig. shows in front view the relation of the parts, indicating how the brush enters the chute for contacting the buttons. Fig. 6 shows the parts in two positions, namely with the chute swung inwardly to button attaching posit-ion in full lines, and outwardly in dotted lines; in the former case the brush 0 having actually entered the chute, its bristles pushing lightly against the but-tons, in the latter case the brush having entirely withdrawn from the chute so as not to interfere with the feed by gravity of further buttons.

I will now describe the actuation of the button agitator which operates within the button reservoir in the manner previously described, and will point out the novel features embodied in such mechanism. IThe shaft h2 to which the agitator is attached has already been referred to. instead of continuously rotating that shaft prefer to oscillate it, for which the following mechanism will serve. In line with shaft h2 is a shaft p. Said two shafts are not connected excepting through a clutch P which comprises clutch member P on shaft h2 and member P2 on shaft 72. Fig. 1 shows the clutch engaged, and F ig. 2 shows it disengaged. Such disengagement may be effected by hand by the following simple mechanism. Member P2 has a radial slot at p which is adapted to engage, when the clutch is closed, with a radial lug 292 on member' P, and a similar lug p3 on member P2. Member P2 is capable of sliding longitudinally on shaft p and is pressed toward the other clutch member by a coil spring pt located between member P2 and one of the two bearings p5 which support the shaft p. 1n closed position the slot 29 engages both lugs p2, 723 and in this position the oscillation of shaft p causes similar operation of shaft 72,2. To disengage, the operator merely by hand forces member P2 downwardly to the right against resistance of spring 294, thus disengaging the slot p and by slightly turning member P2 to the position shown in Fig. 2, said member can be brought to rest against the back of lug p3, in which position it will remain until restored. A valuable coperation will be seen between this clutch and the type of reservoir which bodily swings forward when desired for emptying the buttons. rThus the clutch when in the closed position serves to lock the reservo-ir against rattling and against accidental opening during the operation of the machine. On the other hand the opening of the clutch permits the reservoir to be swung forwardly for emptying the buttons. A collar 296 on shaft j? holds it against displacement.

For oscillating the shaft p the following connections at its lower end may conveniently be provided, the same being shown in front view in Fig. 1 and in top view in Fig. 4. Secured to shaft p by a collar is an arm p7, to the end of which a link 79S is pivotally connected, said link at its rear end being in turn connected to the upper end of a substantially upright arm p9 extending downwardly to where at 2910 it is pivoted to a fixed part of the machine. Referring to Figs. l and 5, the arm @gis shown to have provided a cam pin p11 indicated in dotted lines in both figures, which bears on the surface of a cam or eccentric 2912 formed or secured on the side of the driving pulley e which it will be remembered is loosely mounted on the main shaft Z. To keep the cam pin p11 constantly pressed against the cam p12, a spring 2713 is employed, it pressing at one end upon pin 2214 on the arm p9 and at the other end against a pin p15 fixed to the head A of the machine.. Y

By the described arrangement the rotation of the driving pulley e and the cam p12 causes the inward and outward oscillation of the cam pin 7911 which through the arm 299 and link 798 effects the oscillation of arm p7 and the shafts p and L2. Moreover it will be seen that even when the main clutch of the machine is thrown out so that the button attaching mechanism is not in operation, the pulley e will nevertheless through its rotation cause the continued operation of the agitators 7L, which is desirable so that a partly filled chute will continue to have buttons fed to it though the operator may have for some purpose stopped attaching buttons.

Since it might be that during working hours the machine may be left unused for a time, an expedient is desirable for throwing not only the driving shaft but also the agitators out oit operation when desired, thus saving the wear and tear upon the agitators and their actuating mechan ism. 'lo this end a hand (u )erated throw-(mt lever Q is provided, Figs. lt and it having two arms, nan'iely arm o within reach ot the tmerator, and arm g, the two meeting in an integral member or sleeve q2 mounted to oscillate about a pin o3 with a spring Qf interposed betweiai the sleeve g2 and thepin head. Normally the throw-out lever in the position shown in Fig. 5 and the agitators are in operation, but when it is desired to throw the agitators out ot operation the lever Q; will be thrown to the position ot Fig. fl in which the arln (y is brought to rest above a lixed stop pin ([5. itn this position the other arm o ot the throw-out lever is pressed against the upright arm p betore reiterred to so as to hold said arln and the cam pin 7) so far Vtroni the eccentric 7/12 not to be contacted thereby during the rotation ot driving pulley 'ihus the agitator niechanisln is rendered idle, ltloreover this throwing out oit' the agitator mechanism may bc pertorn'ied independently oit the operation ot the main shaitt, as for example when the operator perceives that enough buttons are in the chute to complete the days work.

On the movable chute member is seen an extension 7 projecting rugwardlyT to a position behind the movable wall 7L belore referred to. This extension in a screw threaded recess has provided a threaded stop o" adjustable by reason of the screw threads and capable of being locked in any adjustment by the lock nut r2. lhis adjustable stop will be set as shown in Fig. 2 so that the movable wall 7i being pressed downwardly vand outwardly by the spring /io will bear against the stop and stand in alinement or registry with the movable wall 7e of the chute. lin this way the portion oit the button passage which is in the reservoir maintained in exact registry with the passage in the chute. rihis, it will be understood, is necessary to insure the lree and unimpeded travel ot' the buttons.u

The operation of the machine as a whole will be sullieiently i'lndcrstood trom the above description and i'rom the prior patent herein referred to.

it will be seen that by reason of the construction above shown and described a but`- ton machine is provided which answers the objects and ail'ords the advantages oil the invention as hereinl'ieitiore set Ylorth; and other advantages will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

w since many changes may be made in the details oit the parts without departing :troni the main principles ot thc invention and without sacrificing its chiot advantages.

While termed a button attaching or sewing machine, it will be understood that the present invention :in its prilu'ziples mightI be employed with articles other than buttons but analilgous thereto, and the description and claims hereolf are to be construed accordingly.

It do not limit rays-clit to the precise expe dient shown for maintaining the registry oi the dillerent sections ot the button passage, since other expedients might be einliloyed, as ilfor example in cases `where the vibration oil the button chute is of a dillerent character :trom the swinging vibration shown and described; and in some cases certain ifeaturcs olf the present invention might be embodied though the continuity oli the button passage 'were not n'laintained throughout the machines operation.

lhe device hereinabove termed a brush which lightly brushes the 'toremost buttons into attaching position, might take any physical iorm and the word brush is used Vin a broad sense to include all devices capable ot exerting a pressure tor insin'ing the ilfeeding of the foremost buttons into proper position.

llaving thus dcscribtal my invention, what ll. claim and desire to secure by Letters latentis:

l. A button attaching machine compris ing in combimitioii, a horizontal worli plate, a button reservoir having a stationary button outlet, a vibratable slotted 'feed chute tor conducting shank-eyed buttons downwardly itrom said outlet to the attaching mechanism and shaped to conduct the toremost buttons eye into an exposed horizontal position over the worh on said work plate, a vertirally recipriaating needle mounted above the work plate, mechanism tor actuatingl the needle in the attzu'hment oit each button, mechanism tor :leeding the work rearwardly over said wort; plate, and means :tor mounting and actuating said :toed chute to 'vibrate relatively to the reservoir, needle and work plate iii-st rearwardly to bring the foremost button to attaching position bctwcen the needli and the worlt and atten ward t'orwardly to disengage the button and enable a thread loop Vto be passed over its head, said means comprising a horizontal lateral bearing or pivot located above the attaching position and inline with the point o't union ot said outlet and chute whereby the chute terminus has its motion in a plane parallel with both the direction ot work teed and the direction ot needle recipro cation.

2. A button attaching machine coniprising in combination, a horizontal work plate, a button reservoir having a stationary button outlet, a vibratable slotted feed chute for conducting shank-eyed buttons downwardly from said outlet to the attaching mechanism and shaped to conduct the foremost buttons eye into an exposed hori- Zontal position over the work on said work plate, a v rtieally reciprocating needle mounted above the work plate, mechanism for actuating the needle to descend and rise twice in the attachment of each butto-n for forming first a loop through the button eye and second a loop outside the button eye and through the first loop, mechanism for feeding the work rearwardly over said work plate between the attachment of two successive buttons and for giving the work a short movement between the formation of the first and second loops for each button, and means for mounting and actuating said feed chute to vibrate relatively to the reservoir, needle and'work plate rst rearwardly to bring the foremost bu ton to attaching position between the needle and the work, then with the work in the aforesaid short movement thereof between loops, and afterward forwardly to disengage the button and enable the second thread loop to be passed over its head, said means comprising a horizontal lateral bearing or pivot located above the attaching position and in line with the point of union o-f said outlet and chute whereby the chute terminus has its motion in a plane parallel with bot-h the direction of work feed and the direction of needle reciprocation.

3. A button attaching machine comprising in combination a button reservoir, a feed chute for conducting the buttons from said reservoir to the attaching mechanism, said chute comprisii'ig two members with a button passage between them, means for adjusting one member toward or from the other to accommodate varying buttons, and a for indicating the adjustment thereof, said .Gage comprising a revolving pointer mounted on one of said members, and means whereby said pointer is actuated fr m the other member.

4l. A but-ton atta-ching machine comprising in combination a button reservoir, a feed chute for conducting buttons from said reservoir to the attaching mechanism, said chute comprising two members with a button passage between them, means for adjusting one member toward or from the other to accommodate varying buttons, and a gage for indicating the adjustment thereof, said gage consisting of a spring pressed pointer on one member actuated by the other member.

5. A button attaching machine comprising in combination, a button reservoir, a feed chute for conducting the buttons from said reservoir to the attaching mechanism, said chute comprising two members with a button passage between them, means for adjusting one member toward or from the other to accommodate varying buttons, and a gage for indicating the adjustment thereof, said gage comprising an index mounted on one of said members, and a contrivance for actuating said index from the other member to move said index with an ustment-indicating motion which is a multiplied motion as compared with the adjusting motion between said members.

6. A button attaching machine comprising in combination a vibrating chute having a button passage arranged to conduct buttons successively to button attaching position, and a movable device located near the exit of said chute adapted to act upon the foremost of the buttons within said passage for pressing buttons toward attaching position, said device having means for vibrating it.

7 A button attaching machinecomprising` in combination a vibrating chute having a button passage arranged to conduct buttons successively to button attaching position, and a vibrating brush device located near the exit of said chute adapted to enter said passage and brush or lightly press the foremost button intermittently toward attaching position, said brush device being resilient or yielding whereby excessive pressure upon the buttons is avoided.

8. A button attaching machine comprising in combination a vibrating button chute, a brush device adapted to intermittently press the foremost button toward attaching position, and means for vibrating said brush device rela-tively to said chute.

9. A button attaching machine comprising in combination a vibrating button chute, a vibrating brush device for acting upon the buttons within the chute, and means operated by the chutes vibration for causing the brushs vibration.

10. A button attaching machine comprising in combination a vibrating button chute, a button brush, a swinging brush carrier mounted at one point, and means carried by the chute acting on another point on said carrier for causing the b rush to vibrate.

ll. A button attachin0r machine comprising in combination a vibrating button chute, a button brush, a swinging brush carrier mounted at: its upper end, and means carried by the chute acting on an intermediate point on said carrier for causing the brush to vibrate in the same direction but at greater speed than the chute, whereby it may intermittently enter the chute and act 13. A button attaching machine comprising in combination a button chute, a relatively movable button clamp near the chute exit, a yielding button stop beyond said clamp, means to cause the clamp to open and close intermittently and means lor causing a light pressure on vthe 'loren'iost button when the clamp is open to insure said button being positioned in contact with said stop.

lll'. A button attaching machine comprising in combination a button chute, a movable button stop near the chute exit7 means tor causing the fort-:most button to move into position in contact with said stop, and a button clamp `for clamping the button while in contact with said stop, said chute having means for vibrating it and said clamp being carried by said chute.

A button attaching machine comprising in combination a button chute, a movable button stop near the chute exit, means it'or causing the foremost button to move into position in contact with said stop, and a button clamp for clamping the button While in contact with said stop, said chute having means for vibrating it and said stop and clamp being carried by said chute.

16. A button attaching machine comprising in combination a button chute, a movable button stop near the chute exit, and means tor causing the foremost button to move into position in contact with said stop, a button clamp and means tor opening said clamp while the button moves to the stop and then closing it to (clamp the butto-n.

17. A. button attachingl machine comprising in combination a machine head, button attaching means at one end ot said head, a driving shat't extending to the opposite end ol" said head and there. provided with a cam, a button reservoir above said head, a chute leading from said reservoir to said attaching means, and a sha'tt-actuated agitator within said reservoir the axis o1 said reservoir and shaft extending dowmward on an incline to 'ard said cam7 and cmiiiectiolls whereby said cam actuales said shait't.

11,8. A button attaching machine comprising in combination a hinged button reservoir, a button agitator therein, an agitator shalt, connections :tor automatically eperating said sha'tt2 and a clutch in said slia'lt which when closed locks the reservoir in normal position, but may be opened to permit the reservoir being swung about said hinge.

ln testimony whereof I allix my signature in presence ol two witnesses.

JOHN KIIQW ltlZ.

Witnesses:

Glnus'rmu Il. T. ll-ients'ricm, 'lllo'Mas Jv. Camry.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

